Is it Too Soon to be Thinking About Festival, 2016?

It's not Halloween yet, and Festival 2016 is already getting their act together. Of course they are since it truly is a year-round effort for that fun filled, tummy filled, community arts event that takes over downtown Grand Rapids for an exciting June weekend.

With Festival's planning underway, now is the time to submit applications for food booths. Applications can be found online at http://www.festivalgr.org/applications.

If you are a non-profit group, this might be a perfect way to raise some much-needed funds, and have a blast at Festival at the same time.

Those interested in having a food booth at Festival of the Arts, of course must be a non-profit or charitable organization and be located in either Kent County or one of the seven surrounding counties. Last year 28 organizations set up booths offering delicious ethnic specialties, desserts and more. Festival is working to increase that count to 30 and hope to add more unique food offerings to the 2016 lineup.

Since a portion of weekend sales go back to the organization, it provides a wonderful way for the organization to raise money. Over Festival’s 47-year history, food booth proceeds have helped build churches, fund school projects, promote food pantries and helped support local arts organizations.

Festival of the Arts encourages those interested to apply soon since space is limited. To be considered, go online and fill out the food booth application along with the other food booth documents. Deadline for submission is November 20, 2015. See the Festival of the Arts website at www.festivalgr.org/guide/food for a complete list of the 2015 participating organizations.

Festival of the Arts welcomes and values diversity and anyone meeting the application requirements is encouraged to apply.